Brigham Young dancers known for innovative fare

May 13, 1994|By Phil Greenfield | Phil Greenfield,Special to The Sun

The Dancer's Company from Brigham Young University in Utah is one of America's most widely toured collegiate dance ensembles.

The 13-member group, whose repertoire covers a variety of genres including classical, abstract and jazz, will be appearing in concert at 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow at the Pascal Center for the Performing Arts of Anne Arundel Community College.

The company will appear under the auspices of the Chesapeake Dance Theater, which received a grant of $1,000 from the Maryland State Arts Council to help pay for the performances. The BYU dancers will be joined on stage by members of the Chesapeake Dance Theater.

The performance will consist of 10 choreographed works spread over the two concert programs.

The visiting artists will be in the Annapolis area for four days, and will be offering master classes for dancers over the age of 4 tomorrow at Severn River Junior High School on Peninsula Farm Road in Arnold.

Working with young talent is a specialty of these dancers.

"During our lecture-demonstrations, we teach children that dancers are athletes, artists and scientists, says Marilyn Berrett, artistic director. "We help them experience the magic of shapes and creative movement exploration."

In concert, the visiting troupe will present innovative fare such as "In Our Own Image," a piece in which the dancers play through designs and motions, and "Hambone For Two," a rhythmic tour-de-force set to the syncopated sounds of clapping hands.

"It's incredible to be on a tour like this," says Alaina Gibb, a 19-year-old BYU freshman now dancing with the same ensemble she has been watching and admiring since she was 3. "We get to see new places, meet different people and work with ideal company members all at the same time."

That enthusiasm is reciprocated. "These dancers bring a life to their audiences that is really unique," says Chesapeake Dance Theater director Ann Brown of Arnold, herself a BYU alumna. "There's a friendliness, an energy of the West we don't always get to see out here."